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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What other subject does Augustine addresses in Book Three and Book Four?
(a) Understanding how to learn from Scripture.
(b) Teaching the doctrines of Scripture.
(c) Understanding how scripture develops community.
(d) Understanding how to convey what one learned from Scripture.

2. How does Augustine use the items of his example to illustrate his distinction?
(a) That Adam made the choice of sin, but Cain responded out of the impulse passed to him from Adam's choice.
(b) That Lucifer sought to discredit Job's faith, but God realized the depth of Job's convictions.
(c) That critics who do not understand show a lack of interest to discover, but those who believe in special gifts use a false faith to rationalize their lack of interest.
(d) The meal is enjoyed, but the pot is used.

3. What does Augustine write is incompatible with love?
(a) Using things without the goal of enjoying them is incompatible with love.
(b) Using things for non-Scriptural purposes is incompatible with love.
(c) Using things without seeking wisdom is incompatible with love.
(d) Coveting things for one's self is incompatible with love.

4. What is the step that Augustine identifies an individual should take before entering into a proper relationship with God?
(a) An individual must repent of their sins and be baptized.
(b) An individual must sell all possessions and give the money to the Priest.
(c) An individual's eyes must be purged and God's plan and healing must be followed.
(d) An individual must leave their mother and father and cleave to the Church.

5. What is Augustine's attitude toward those who have a "special gift" for interpretation from God?
(a) Augustine considers himself as one.
(b) They are blessed.
(c) Such "gifts" were exhausted at Pentecost.
(d) God will appoint them to a position of authority.

6. What does Augustine conclude are the only things that can be enjoyed?
(a) Only wisdom and Truth can be enjoyed.
(b) Only things that are used with special gifts to prove Truth can be enjoyed.
(c) Only eternal and unchangeable things can be enjoyed.
(d) Only things that reveal Truth can be enjoyed.

7. What are the two main tools that God uses to teach men what to do, as identified by Augustine?
(a) Angels and human communities.
(b) Wars and rumors of wars.
(c) Priests and Rabbis
(d) Scripture and nature.

8. What was the first type of criticism Augustine suggests his work "On Christian Doctrine" would face?
(a) Criticism that his moral demands would be restricted to pagan converts.
(b) Criticism that his demands for linguistic studies were too exclusive.
(c) Criticism from those who cannot grasp his teaching.
(d) Criticism that blending Greek and Christian philosophies was heretical.

9. What is the main difference between the system of learning that Augustine advocates and that advocated by the critics he focuses on in the Preface?
(a) Augustine's system requires great expense in accessing the necessary documents of learning whereas the critics allow for the interpretation of the spirit through tongues.
(b) Augustine's system requires study and application of rules whereas the critics believe they can understand through special gifts.
(c) Augustine's system of learning requires study in Greek philosophy whereas the critics require researching copies of manuscripts.
(d) Augustine's system requires finding a qualified Priest to hand down the official teaching of the Church whereas the critics allow free interpretation.

10. What does Augustine encourage his critics to remember in the Preface?
(a) To practice the rhetorical skills he embraces to make criticism more effective.
(b) To remember experiencing learning for themselves.
(c) To patiently contemplate his points before they make a judgment.
(d) To be wary of falling into the trap of heresy.

11. How does Augustine characterize the argument that his teaching is not needed because it comes from a human source?
(a) It is being logically inconsistent.
(b) It is being heretical.
(c) It is responsible for allowing "babes in the Faith being devoured by the wolves of the world."
(d) It is intolerant.

12. What is the logical inconsistency of the critics that Augustine confronts in the Preface?
(a) If these critics believe they need no training, why are they reviewing Augustine's works?
(b) If learning only comes through community, why does Scripture encourage separation for prayer?
(c) If these critics believe that Scripture can only be learned through "special gifts," and God wants everyone to know scriptures, then why doesn't everyone have "special gifts"?
(d) If these critics believe learning only comes through the possession of "special gifts," why do they teach?

13. What is the second important distinction that Augustine makes in Book One?
(a) The distinction between enjoy and use.
(b) The distinction between Christian love and pagan love.
(c) The distinction between encouraging and exhortation.
(d) The distinction between things and signs.

14. According to Augustine, how should a student be affected as he/she becomes proficient in interpreting Scripture?
(a) He/she will help to apply the principles of community.
(b) He/she will help develop a student's teaching skill.
(c) He/she will help in developing an understanding of God's motivations.
(d) He/she will increase the love that one feels.

15. Upon what does Augustine focus most of his efforts in the Preface of "On Christian Doctrine"?
(a) Criticism from those who refuse or are unable to apply it.
(b) Criticism that his demands for linguistic studies were too exclusive.
(c) Criticism from those who believe it is not needed.
(d) Criticism from those who claim that Augustine relied too much on training and not enough on divine guidance.

Short Answer Questions

1. What should be the nature of the relationship between humans and God according to Augustine?

2. Who does Augustine suggest has the ability to know the Truth?

3. What items or situations does Augustine use to illustrate his distinction of things?

4. What does Augustine reason is the consequence to human teaching if learning comes from Divine gifts?

5. According to Augustine, for what reason should one love oneself?

(see the answer keys)

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